Carton



March 5, 1940. L.. w. REAUME CARTON Filed July 8, 1937 .zal

dn/1462766' 14./ gaaanz@ BY Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES CARTON Lawrence W. Resume, Monroe, Mich., assignmto River Raisin Paper Company, Monroe, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 8, 1937, Serial No. 152,598

6 Claims.

hand hole in one end wall thereof. This is necessary in view of the practice of truckers of picking up two lled cartons, one in each hand, by engaging with each hand a hand hole in the end of a carton. The use of laminated paper cartons for this purpose has become quite extensive in view of their low costs, but serious difficulties 20 have been encountered in providingv cartons of this type which are sufficiently strong to Withstand the rough usage for any substantial length of time.

Accordingly, it is one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a carton of the type mentioned which is simple in construction and so designed that it will readily withstand rough usage and particularly handling by a single hand hole in one end of the carton.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton having a special hand hole positioned centrally within the carton for lifting the same when the cover iiaps are open.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton of the type mentioned which, when closed, will not admit light to the contents.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specication, the accompanying drawing, and the ap- 40 pended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the carton opened and with a portion of one end wall disassembled to show the mode of construction;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to 50 Fig. 3, but of a modified form of the invention;

and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 o! the 55 drawing, the main body portion oi the carton The caris preferably formed of a single sheet of laminated paper or cardboard provided with a plurality of parallel crease lines which divide the sheet of material into a top ap il), a half top member-II, a side wall I2, a bottom wall I3, a side wall i4, a half top member i5, and a top flap i6. The side walls l2 and It are provided, respectively, with end flaps Il and I8 and the bottom Wall is provided with corresponding flaps I9. When the sheet of material is folded into the 10 form shown, end walls are secured to the ilaps Il, i8, and i9 by any suitable means, such as staples 2 I, thus completing the main body portion of the carton. As shown best in Figures l and 2,

it will be noted that the end walls 20 are also prol5 vided at their upper edges with a pair of iiaps 22 and 24 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The carton may be provided with the usual cross-partition members 26 and longitudinal partition members 21, which divide the box 20 into a plurality of compartments, each adapted to receive a single bottle or receptacle.

There is provided, in accordance with the present invention, a longitudinal partition member, indicated generally at 30, which extends longitudinally of the box midway of the sides I2 and I4. This partition member is preferably formed of a single sheet of laminated paper material and is folded along its upper edge to provide a pair of overlapping partition members 3l and 32. 30 These partition members 3l and 32 are preferably secured together by any suitable means such as a staple 33,-shown best in Figures 2 and 3. The ends of the partition member 3| are provided with a pair of flaps 35 and the ends of the partition 35 member 32 are p vided with similar flaps 36. These flaps are bert .at right-angles to the partition into the plane of the end walls 20, Whereupon the flaps 22 and 24 on the top edges of the end walls are folded over the aps 35 and 36 and 40 secured by means of staples 38 to the aps and the end walls proper. By this means, the partition 30 is flxedly secured to the end walls of the carton. The partition is formed of relatively heavy material and accordingly has substantial stiffness and strength. Hence, it forms a strong reinforcement for the entire box and particularly for the end walls.

'I'he reinforcing action of the partition 30 is important in view of the fact that the end walls are provided with the usual hand hole 39, by means of which the carton may be grasped and lifted. It should be noted that the hand hole is so arranged that it is located entirely within the area covered by the flaps 36 and 36 or the parti- 55 tion member 30 and that accordingly the hand hole is formed in a double thickness Aof material, thus greatly enhancing its strength. In addition,

lthe aps 22 and 24 on the top edges of the end wall are of such length that when bent over the flaps 35 and 36, their extremities lie along the top edges of the hand hole 39, thus additionally reinforcing the Aend wall at this point. This arrangement gives a triple thickness of relatively stiff, strong material above the hand hole, at which point the greatest load is applied. Accordingly, it is possible to lift'a fully loaded carton with one hand by means of the hand hole provided in one end wall without injuring or unduly straining the carton in any way.

In addition, it will be noted that there is provided in the partition member 30 an additional hand hole 46 intermediate the ends of the partition member. This hand hole 46 is useful for lifting the carton at any time when the lid of the box is open. This may be required for purposes of inspection, or otherwise, at the time the cartons are loaded.

In forming the hand holes in the end walls of the carton, it is possible to entirely remove the material of both the end wall and the overlapping portion of the flaps 35 and 36. However, it'is preferable to leave the material of the flaps 35 and 36 partially connected to the flaps, as shown best in Fig. 2, thus providing a pair of aps and 4l at each hand hole, which norm-ally serve to close the hand hole and prevent the admission of light to the contents of the carton. This is particularly desirable when the carton is to be used for transporting beer bottles, inasmuch as beer can only be kept well in the dark. As shown in the drawing, the aps 40 and 4| are preferably hinged at the lower edge of the hand hole, but it is apparent that they may be hinged at any other edge thereof. The material from which the partition 30, and therefore aps 35 and 36, is made is of sufficient stiffness and resiliency to cause the flaps to swing back into closing position after theylhave been displaced therefrom.

It should be noted that in the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, that the top edge of the partition member 30 is spaced somewhat below the top edge of the end walls 20. This is done in order to provide a small space between the top flaps I0 and I6 and above the partition member 30 when the half top members are closed, as best shown in Fig. 3. This space 45 will permit the insertion of one or more fingers between the flaps i0 and I6 for the purpose of engaging and lifting the top of the box. It should be noted that the half top members I2 and l5, when in closed position, rest at their end edges upon the top of the end walls 20, thus limiting downward movement of the half top members beyond the position shown in Fig. 3.

While the partition 30 is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, as terminating just above the partition members 26 and 21, it is apparent that it may, if desired, extend all the way to the bottom of the carton, thus replacing the central longitudinal portion 21. In that event, the partition member 30 would be provided with slots similar to the slots 41 in the central partition member 21 and the lower portion of partition member 30 would be received in similar slots in crossportions 26. Such an arrangement is of advantage because it provides greater strength and, since the partition 30 is received in slots in partitions 26, the use of staples 33 can be avoided.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figures 4 and 5, in which the partition member 30' is formed of sheet metal instead of a laminated paper material. 'I'he partition 30' is folded in the manner described with respect to the previous modification to provide a pair of partition members 3l"v and 32', each of which have their ends bent outwardly in the plane of the end walls 20' to form flaps 35' and 36'. It will be noted that when the partition member 30' is formed of sheet metal that it may be made of substantially less height than in the previous modification of the invention and that accordingly, the lower edge thereof may conform to the upper edge of the hand hole 39 in the end walls 20'. Accordingly, the flaps 35 and 36 assist in reinforcing the upper edge of the hand hole. In this modification of the invention, the flaps 22 and 24', on the end walls 20', are of greater length, with the result that when bent inwardly over the flaps 35' and 36' they extend below the lower edges of the latter, in order that they may be secured to the end wall proper by means of staples 36'. It will be noted that the partition member 30' is not in itself secured to the end walls but is held against displacement therefrom solely by means of the overlapping flaps 22' and 24' on the end walls 20. 'I'he material which is removed from the end wall to form the hand hole 39 may, if desired, be only partially severed, leaving a ap 40' secured along the lower edge of the hand hole for maintaining the hand hole normally closed, as shown in Fig. 4.

It will further be noted that inthe modification just described that the upper edge of the partition 30 will lie substantially flush with the top edge of the end walls and that accordingly, there is no space corresponding to the space 45 shown in Fig. 3 in the prior form of the invention, by means of which the half top members may be lifted. Accordingly, in this form of the invention, a pair of nger tabs and 5ll are partially cutfrom the half top members Il' and I5'. These finger tabs 50 and 5| are hinged to the half top members at 52 and 53 along the crease lines between the top aps and the half top members, as best shown in Fig. 5. Accordingly, the finger tabs may be depressed in order to provide an opening for engagement of a finger beneath the half top members in order to lift the latter, but they will spring back and close the opening thereafter, thus preventing the entrance of light to the carton. In this form of the invention it is unnecessary to provide a separate hand hole in the partition member 30 as there is sufficient room to engage the under side of the partition mem-ber.

While only two forms of the invention have been shown and described, it is apparent that variations in the construction are available within the spirit of the foregoing specification, the `accompanying drawing, and within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cardboard carton having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall connected together to form a box structure, said end walls being provided with hand holes for lifting the carton, i. cardboard reinforcing member extending longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls, said cardboard reinforcing member having end portions bent into the plane of the end walls and secured thereto to reinforce the latter, said end portions overlying said hand holes and being provided with corresponding handreceiving openings whereby the end portions reinforce the hand holes in the end walls.

2. A cardboard carton having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall 4connected together to form a box structure, a pair of partition members positioned face-to-face and extending longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls in parallel vertical planes, the ends of said partition members being bent in opposite directions into the plane of the end walls, said end walls being provided with hand holes, naps on the upper edges of said end walls folded into the carton and into overlapping relation to said end portions of said members, and means for securing said last aps to said end walls below the^top edges thereof.

3. A cardboard carton having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall connected together to form a box structure, a pair of partition members positioned face-to-face and extending longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls in parallel vertical planes, the ends of said partition members being bent in opposite directions into the plane of the end walls, said end walls being provided with hand holes, aps on the upper edges of said end Walls folded into the carton and into overlapping relation to said end portions of said members, and means for securing said last flaps to said end walls below the top edges thereof, the extremities of said flaps being located along the upper edge of said hand holes to reinforce the same.

4. A cardboard carton having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall connected together to form a box structure, a pair of partition members positioned face-to-face and extending longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls in parallel vertical planes, the ends of said partition members being bent in opposite directions into the plane of the end walls, said end walls being provided with hand holes, and means for securing said last-mentioned portions of the end members to the end walls adjacent said hand holes, said partition members being formed from a single sheet of material and being joined at their upper edges.

5. A cardboard carton having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall connected together to form a box structure, said end walls being provided with hand holes for lifting the carton, a reinforcing member extending longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls and being secured to the end walls to reinforce the same, and a hand hole in said reinforcing member located intermediate its ends.

6. A cardboard carton having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall connected together to form a box structure, a pair of partition members positioned 'face-to-face and extending longitudinally of the carton intermediate the side walls in parallel vertical planes, the ends of said partition members being bent inopposite directions into the plane of the end walls, said end walls being provided with hand holes, aps on the upper edges of said end walls folded into the carton and into overlapping relation to said end portions of said members, and means for securing said last'flaps to said end walls below the top edge thereof, the lower edges of said end portions of said partition members being located along the upper edge of said hand holes to reinforce the same. l

LAWRENCE W. REAUME. 

